Protesters Greet Obama During 3.5 Hour Visit To SF

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12:27 PM: President Obama arrived in the Bay Area this morning for a series of fundraisers in San Francisco, which his campaign said is a short stopover on his way to Los Angeles.

Air Force One touched down at 11:35 a.m. at San Francisco International Airport, and the president exited the plane about 10 minutes later.

Obama was greeted on the tarmac by San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, Lt.
Gov. Gavin Newsom and a group of about a dozen people volunteering with his
re-election campaign.

Alongside Air Force One, the president, who wore a dark blue suit, blue shirt and a blue tie, posed for pictures with the campaign volunteers at the foot of the plane’s stairs.

After shaking hands with several spectators, the president waved and entered his Cadillac limousine at about 11:50 a.m. The car immediately departed, led and trailed by his motorcade.

Obama is scheduled to attend two campaign events in the city’s Financial District before leaving the Bay Area at 3:15 p.m., according to campaign officials.

A fundraiser at the Landmark at One Market Plaza is first on the president’s brief San Francisco agenda, followed by a luncheon around 12:30 p.m. at the Julia Morgan Ballroom in the Merchants Exchange Building at 465 California St.

Tickets to the sold-out luncheon were priced at $5,000 per person to as much as $50,000 to host a table.

Lee is expected to attend the fundraiser meal at the Julia Morgan Ballroom, according to mayoral spokesman Francis Tsang.

San Francisco police have advised that streets surrounding the Landmark at 1 Market St. and the Merchants Exchange Building at 465 California St. will be closed during the president’s visit, which will clock in at just more than three hours.

Protesters from the Center for Biological Diversity and Greenpeace were expected outside the Merchants Exchange around noon to demand an end to plans to begin Arctic drilling this summer. A “polar bear” named Frostpaw is expected to greet the president, organizers said.

Another group of protesters with the World Can’t Wait and Occupy SF and other groups are demonstrating against killer drone activity that they say Obama oversees.

The president is expected to land in Los Angeles following his San Francisco visit to attend the LGBT Leadership Council gala at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

10:21 AM: President Obama is set to touchdown in the Bay Area late this morning for a short fundraising stopover on his way to Los Angeles, according to his campaign.

Air Force One is scheduled to arrive at San Francisco International Airport at 11:40 a.m. The president will then head to San Francisco’s Financial District for two campaign events before leaving the Bay Area at 3:15 p.m., according to campaign officials.

A fundraiser at the Landmark at One Market Plaza is first on the president’s brief San Francisco agenda, followed by a luncheon around 12:30 p.m. at the Julia Morgan Ballroom in the Merchants Exchange Building at 465 California St.

Tickets to the sold-out luncheon were priced at $5,000 per person to as much as $50,000 to host a table.

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee will be welcoming Obama at the airport, according to mayoral spokesman Francis Tsang. The mayor will then attend the fundraiser meal at the Julia Morgan Ballroom.

San Francisco police have advised that streets surrounding the Landmark at 1 Market St. and the Merchants Exchange Building at 465 California St. will be closed during the president’s visit, which will clock in at just more than three hours.

Protesters from the Center for Biological Diversity and Greenpeace are expected outside the Merchants Exchange around noon to demand an end to plans to begin Arctic drilling this summer. A “polar bear” named Frostpaw is expected to greet the president, organizers said.

Another group of protesters with the World Can’t Wait and Occupy SF and other groups are demonstrating against killer drone activity that they say Obama oversees. They will protest the presidential visit at the Landmark at noon and continue demonstrating at the Merchants Exchange.

The president is expected to land in Los Angeles following his San Francisco visit to attend the LGBT Leadership Council gala at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel.